Stubble plow



Sept. 21, 1954 A. B. sKRoMME sTuBBLE PLOW 8 Sheets-Sheet l 60A GO (1 2.s 55 zaga 2A/d0 5. SKQOMME' Sept 2l, u54 A. B. sKRoMME STUBBLE PLOW 8Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l2, 1949 Sept 2l, 1954 A, B. sKRoMME2,689,512

` STUBBLE PLOW Filed March 12, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 wu www@ m maSept. 2l, 1954 A. B. sKRoMME STUBBLE PLOW 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Marchl2, 1949 Sept' 21, 1954 A. B. sKRoMME 2,689,512

sTUBBLE PLow Filed March 12, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 3mm/bop .F./ZG 15.#eA/0m e. seeaMMf @l ai@ HTTOQNEHS A. B. SKROMME STUBBLE PLOW Sept, 2l,1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 12, 1949 IN VEN TOR. ,l Ane/vow 3..smo/m45 OQ/EVS 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 A77 TUBA/E716 A 1N V EN TOR. ge/OLD B.5K/POMME Sept. 2l, 1954 A. B. sKRoMME STUBBLE PLOW Filed March 12, 1949Sept. 2l, 1954 A, B, SKROMME 2,689,512

`STLIBBLE.' PLOW Filed March 12, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN V EN TOR. Q/B. SKQOMME' 'TONEVS Patented Sept. 21, 1954 STUBBLE PLOW Arnold B.Skromme, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaiiyassignor to Pineapple ResearchInstitute of Hawaii, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii,

an association of Hawaii Application March 12, 1949, Serial No. 81,186

(Cl. .S7-35) 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to plows especially useful in plowingsoils sustaining much vegetation, particularly the nonscouring soils ofthe type found in Hawaii with a heavy cover of vegetative growth orplant residue such as pineapple ratoon plants or other debris on thesurface thereof. By nonscouring soils is meant soils which refuse toslide smoothly on a polished steel moldboard.

Soils in Hawaii, where pineapples are grown, have a high colloidal claycontent and a crumb structure of low shearing strength to causenonscouring or high adhesion to ground working implements. Preparationof suitable seed beds in previously harvested pineapple elds isadditionally complicated by the amount and type of growth remaining onthe field after the pineapples are harvested. The amount of this growthamounts to 50 to 100 tons or even more per acre. In comparison, thisamount is approximately four to eight times the weight of a good crop ofensilage corn of the type cut for silage in the Midwestern States.

In accordance with the present day practice of preparing suitable seedbeds in previously harvested pineapple elds, it is usually necessary tofirst, knock down and cut up the old remaining growth or ratoon by theuse of a rotary tiller, disc narrow, shredder, pineapple stump splitteror other implement many times and then to plow the eld fromthree to`seven times with disc plows over a period from four to eleven months tobury the ratoon and other debris under the soil. It is apparent thatsuch customary operations require many man hours, different' types oftools, and the expenditure of an excessive number of mechanicalhorsepower hoursover relatively long periods of time during which thepineapples field remains unproductive.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved plow with which but only one plowing `operation is requiredduring the preparation of a satisfactory seed bed with a relativelysmall amount of mechanical energy and with the requirement of arelatively small number of man hours thereby conditioning the field in ashorttime, to permit the productivity over a longer period of the year.

Another object of the present invention is t0 provide an improved plowwhich allows reduction of the capital investment in a pineappleplantation. l

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedplow, the use of which, may effectively increase by approximately 30%the amount of existing acreage now used for growing pineapples.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved plowparticularly useful in conditioning the soil in previously harvestedpineapple elds, but which is not limited in its application, and mayhave general application in similar types of elds where a heavyvegetative growth or scouring difficulties are encountered.

Another object of the present invention is to provide certainimprovements on plows whereby the operation thereof is rendered moreeffective and efficient in preparing pineapple Iields for planting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved plowincluding a colter and partial moldboard with an associated conveyormoldboard for achieving the above indicated results.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedarrangement of a power driven colter with a share and partial moldboardincorporating a power driven endless conveyor moldboard, eachcooperating with the other in a novel manner to achieve the aboveindicated desirable results.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedplow incorporating as two `important elements thereof, a power drivencolter and a power driven conveyor moldboard which, in accordance withthe teachings hereinf may both be used in conjunction with a combinationshare and partial moldboard for achieving the above indicated desirableresults.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved plowincorporating a colter which is cantilever supported to avoid cloggingor jamming of the plow with heavy vegetative growth to obtain thedesirable results indicated above.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide animproved plow having arotary colter thereon with teeth of predeterminedshape on its periphery, the colter being arranged for projection intothe soil a predetermined amount in relationship to the predeterminedconfiguration of the teeth to facilitate cutting of heavy vegetativegrowth to thereby achieve some of the desirable results indicated above.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedplow characterized by the fact that it incorporates a partial moldboardwith an endless conveyor moldboard which depends for its movement on theapplication of power developed other than by the moving soil in contactwith it, and other than movement of the plow itself.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved plowincorporating a colter cooperating with a combination soil shield andguide characterized by the fact that such shield guide member serves asan anvil against which heavy vegetative growth ilnperfectly cutinitially by the colter in its penetration into the ground maysubsequently be pressed for subsequent cutting by the colter, suchshield member serving also to prevent soil and trash from going betweenor beside an associated belt moldboard to, otherwise, cause interferencewith its movement.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedplow incorporating a colter characterized by the fact that such colteris driven by power supplied other than through ground traction.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. rIhis inventionitself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a plow embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of theplow shown in Figure 1 withthe chassis of the plow, colter, partial xed moldboard .and conveyormoldboard mounted thereon shown in raised position for transporting overhighways, but with the wing-moldboard structure shown in Figures l and 3omitted in order to see structure in greater detail in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a view similar to the view shown in Figure 2 but with thechassis, colter, partial fixed rnoldboard and conveyor moldboard mountedon the chassis shown in lowered position where it is effective for itsintended plowing purpose. f

Figure Ll is an enlarged View of the colter shown in Figure 3 toillustrate one possible, but not always obtainable, interrelationshipbetween the configuration of the colter teeth and the depth ofpenetration of the colter into the ground.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line `5--5 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective View showing in enlarged form sonic of theelements illustrated in Figure 3, but with the wing moidboard omitted.

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 'l-l ofFigure 6.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 3 ofFigure 6.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line Q-Q ofFigure 8.

Figure lo is a perspective view of a portion of the scraper elementshown in Figure 9.

Figure 1l is a perspective Vview of a portion of the center of theendless belt shown in Figure 8, a V member either being riveted to abelt although such V may likewise be vulcanized to the belt in itsmanufacture as shown.

Figure 12 is a perspective View taken substantially in the directionindicated by the line iii-i2 of Figure 1.

Figure 13 is a perspective view indicating the manner in which theendless conveyor moldboard moves the soil in an adjacent furrow.

Figure 1li is a perspective view of a modified moldboard with a modifiedpower driven conveyor moldboard mounted thereon, the View being taken inthe same angle as is the view shown in Figure 6.

Figure 15 is a View in side elevation of another modified arrangementembodying the present invention.

Figures 16 and 17 are views respectively in plan and in side elevationof still another modifled arrangement embodying the present inventionwhich may or may not include a wing moldboard of the type shown inFigure 3.

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken substantial- .ly on the line IB--iiof Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a View of the plow shown in Figure 17 with the colterrnoldboard and inoving belt assembly moved to raised position fortransport purposes. l

Figure 20 is a View in perspective taken substantially in the directionindicated by the line 2li-#2li in Figure 19 of the plow when inoperation.

Figure 21 shows portions of the plow illustrated in Figure 17 toindicate the manner in which the plow element may be moved out of liarmsway when an obstruction such as a large rock or boulder is contacted.

Figure 22 is a perspective View showing details of the guide structureshown in Figure 16.

The plow shown in the drawings is of the moldboard type with fourprincipal components:

First, a large, sharp, power-driven, rotatable, at colter lll which isarranged to slice, in substantially a vertical plane, through surfacedebris, ratoon, and plants and which .is arranged also to out into theground to facilitate the separation of one furrow from another as theplow il is pulled through the field by a power unit, such as a tractorin the direction indicated by the arrow i12 in Figure 1; second, a largeshare it and partial moldboard iii trails behind the colter i@ and digsunder the furrow which the colter it has previously defined by itscutting. The share I3 and partial inoldboard ifi have theirgroundengaging work surfaces contiguous and blending one into the otherso as 'to initially produce shearing of the soil in a horizontal planeunder such furrow as well as vertically on that part of the landside ofthe furrow slice which the colter does not reach and simultaneouslygradually lifts a furrow slice to a position where it is acted upon bythe third component comprising a powerdriven endless conveyor moldboardThe belt I 5 may be of fabric reinforced rubber,

. metal, or other siniilar suitable material and is arranged to receivethe soil as it leaves the combination share-moldboard i3, iti and tolift such soil upward and outward, in such a manner, that the furrowslice previously made by the action of the colter l@ and combinationshare-moldboard i3, ld is turned sufficiently to bury the debris and theratoon under the soil which was originally beneath such debris andratoons. In order to facilitate and to assure such nioveinent of soil, astationary wing rnoldboard 353A may be mounted as shown in Figures 1 and3, at the outside upper edge of the path of movement of the belt i5 todeflect and to guide the movement soil. Also, to assure the upwardeicient movement of soils, cleats 15C are afxed to the belt i5.

The fourth component is a combination soil shield and guide member lwhose outer soil contacting surface is likewise contiguous with andblends into the soil engaging surface of the partial Inoldboard lll.This member it serves to 5, prevent soil from entering in between theloop of theendlessconveyorbelt I5 and serves also to direct and guidethe now of soil onto the enda purpose described more fully hereinafter.`

Briefly, the shield member I6 is, of course, rela` tively stationarywith respect to the moving colter IIJ and serves as an anvil or shearingmember against which imperfectly out plant andratoons may besubsequently pressed and sheared as the colter I rotates inthe directionindicated by the arrow I1 tocarry upwardly such ratoon which may beimperfectly cut against the edge IGA. This movement of the colter I0 isindependent of the movement of the plow, as would be the case if thecolter were moved by ground traction, to thereby allow operation of thecolter to free the plow and area of trash when the composite plow isstanding still.

An important feature of the present invention is that the colter IIJ' ispower-driven other than by ground traction. For this purpose, the colteris driven by a prime mover such as a gasoline engine 20 mounted on thechassis 2| of the wheel plow 9. While the plow shown herein is mountedon a whel chassis, the plow neednot necessarily be mounted on a` wheeledchassis but may be mounted on a tractor hitch frame. Likewise, while thedrawings show the colter and belt I5, each driven from the prime mover2U, these elements may likewise be driven from a power takeoi on thetractor which pulls the plow through the field.

In either one of such cases, the cutting action of the colter I0 issubstantially independent of the movement of the plow. Likewise, themovement of the conveyor belt I5 is substantially in dependent of themovement of the plow and also substantially independent of the movementof the furrow slices contacting it. Thisv `independency` of movement ofthe colterand conveyor I5 is considered important because it hasbeenobserved that conventional coltersdriven solely bycontact with the soil will not satisfactorily cut through the surface plants and trash toseparate or define one furrow from another. This `failure tosatisfactorily cut through ratoon and surface plants and debris mayresult in clogging which becomes progressively Worse until, the plowbecomes inoperative and requires cleaning. In pineapple elds, this mayoccur within a distance` of only a few feet. l

Thus, for these reasons, it is again repeated that preferably the'colter I0 is power driven by either a prime mover or a power take-olfonthe pulling tractor capable ofdelivering `a relatively large poweroutput, preferably .muchmore than could be conveniently obtained bycoupling the colter to ground engaging wheels. Further, the colter ispreferably driven by an independent prime mover or a powertake-oiffromthe pulling unit because otherwise` slippage` between the wheels andground may result in` clogging;

` Another important featureof the present `ar- 6 rangement resides inthe provision and particular disposition of the endless belt I5 withrelationship to the share-moldboard I3, I4 and colter Ill and shieldmember I6. This belt I5 serves not only to overcome the tendency ofnonscouring soils to stick onto themoldboard I4, but serves also, due toits particular relationship to the share-moldboard I3, I4 and colterIIB, to convey and direct the flow of soil originally under the ratoonsto a position where such Soil is allowed to bury the ratoons and debrisin the next adjacent furrow. The soils in the Hawaiian Islandsparticularly stick to steel moldboards and would otherwise proceed tobuild up thick layers, thus preventing the furrow being cut from beingturned upside down into the next adjacent furrow.

It is appreciated that endless belts, per se, have been used toeliminate the deleterious effects which would otherwise be produced by anonscouring soil `on a moldboard, but the endless belt ill, aspreviously outlined, serves not only this function, but is disposed inrelationship to the colter II and share-moldboard I3, I 4 to obtain thenew desirable results mentioned hereinabove. This belt I5 may be drivenby any one of the following means which are set forth herein asexamples: (l) an auxiliary engine, mounted either on the plow ortractor, (2) a power take-off from the tractor pulling or carryingthecomposM ite plow, 3) hydraulic motors, or (4) electric motors. Thecolter Ill likewise may be driven by any one of these means.

The colter Il) is supported as a cantilever in bearing member 22. Theshaft 23 of the colter extends through this bearing 22 and has mountedthereon the sprocket 24 over which the endless chain 25 passes. Theendless chain 25 is driven by the sprocket 2t on the power-driventake-ofiF shaft 2'I of the gasoline engine 20.'

Another power take-oil shaft Eil of the unit 253 is coupled throughuniversal joints 29 and Sil to the shaft 3I of the belt driving roller32. Shaft 28 'may be supported for rotation in the bearing member 33 onthe chassis 2|. O'f importance is that the drive for both the colter IGand belt I5 is disposed out of the path of the moving soil, it beingnoted that one side of the colter Iii is free from shaft supportingelements `and such one side of the Acolter is adjacent the partialmoldboard I4 and belt I5, between which elements there is free spacewithin which there is no likelihood that ratoon imperfectly out by thecolter I@ may be come jammed or clogged. For this reason, the cantileversupport of the colter is preferred. Possibly, such imperfeotly cutratoon may become jammed between the colter It and the shield I?, butsince the leading edge of the shield UBA is in the same plane as is theplane of the disk colter,

l the edge IEA serves as a shearing edge against which such imperfectlycut ratoon may subsequently be completely cut.

In order to prevent damage when large rocks or stones become jammedbetween the colter and the share-moldboard i3, I4, or shield It, aconventional type of slip clutch iii is provided between shaft 4I andshaft 4 IA. Shaft 4I is driven directly by the output shaft 42 of theprime mover 2li through a speed control transmission d3, shaft lid,chain sprocket A5 on shaft 44, endless roller chain 46 and chainsprocket 4l on shaft III, the shafts mentioned being journalled forrotation in suitable bearings on the frame or chassis of the plow.

The belt I5 is driven by the roller 32 and passes over the `end guideroller 50 and intermediate guide yroller l, each one of the rollers 32,50 and 5I being journalled for rotation in suitable bearings mounted onsuitable bolted frame .extensions 53 forming a box framework disposedbehind the belt and out of the path of moving soil. This box frame ismade up of the bolted frame extensions 53 and supports the endless beltl5 with their rollers 32, 50 and 5| tilted downwardly approximately 35and inclined backward approximately 43 from the line of travel. The wingmolclboard lA may be bolted or welded to such box framework.

It is noted that the center roller 5l serves to talee a considerableamount of the thrust of the soil to prevent undue strain on the belt i5.Also the center roller 5l assists greatly in guiding and keeping thebelt on the rollers. Preferably three rollers 32, di), 5I are thus usedalthough a greater number than three rollers may also be used.

The chassis 2l includes as lan element thereof the plow beam 2lA, uponwhich, in fact, the cradle 2lB for the prime mover 2i? is mounted.

mentioned previously, the chassis 2l, including the beam 2id, may bemounted on a tractor hitch frame. As shown herein, the beam is supportedon two iront wheels til, 6l and a rear wheel ci. The beam 2 lA may bemoved from an elevated position with respect to the ground shown inFigure 2 to a lowered position shown in Figure 3 by conventional meanswhich form per se, no part of the present invention.

The wheels Si, @i are mounted on a pair of axle-s ttul, BEA which arejoined by a connecting bridge cr crank member -63 which in turn isjournalled for rotation in vextension on the chassis 2E. This crankmember S3 may be rotated to raise and lower the chassis for plowingdepth adjustment by applying fluid under pressure to the fluid cylinder655 through flexible conduit 5t from the iiuid pump and control means 6lmounted on the beam ZiA. The housing of the huid cylinder t5 may bepivotally mounted on the wheel shaft @lA while the piston @l may beattached tc an arm Sit pivoted on the beam 2 IA.

The arm 59 may be held in adjusted position by a toothed sector Itmounted on the chassis 2l in conventional manner.

The rear wheel S2 is supported on an arm l@ which is bent at one end toform an axle for the wheel til and is bent vertically at its other endjournalled for rotation in bearing member which is pivo'tally mounted onan extension of cam 2in. The angular position of the bearing member llimay be controlled by a manually operable control rod 8d which isattached through crank members 82 and 83 to the housing 'it to changeits orientation with respect to the vertical, thereby to change theheight of the chassis with respect to ground, the crank members 82, t3being pivotally mounted with respect to the chassis. r-'. forkedextension ab is provided on the end of the extension of 'the beam ZEA tostraddle the rod l@ to thereby maintain the wheel 62 oriented in astraight ahead direction in the position shown in Figure 3.

Preferably, the colter lil is Venotched on its periphery with the inneredges of each V-notch beveled to form teeth iii'having a sharp cuttingthe \/notches each having an equal included angle denoted by thereference character di, rEhe particular shape of the V-notches and teethel! are preferably as shown in the drawings.

The sharpened teeth Si) of the colter lll draw the material to be .cutagainst them on the ground 8 with the forward tips .of the .colter teethrotating downward as indicated by the arrow il..

`While the present invention may be practiced with .the use of atoothless, smooth, power-driven coiter, it is preferred, as shownherein, to make the included angle el of the V-notch such that apractically self-,cleaning tooth results. This included angle of the'V-notch andthe normal penetration of the colter in the ground are eachsuch and interrelated that the beveled edge of the il-notch of the toothbeing withdrawn from the ground extends in a `substantiallyverticalplane. The depth of penetration or" the colter is preferably 5 .to 7".

It has been vobserved if the included angle 9i of the Atf-.shaped notch`or tooth were enlarged to make the tooth sharpen it would form a pocketto hold and carry trash up off the ground. On the other hand, if suchincluded angle el were made smaller, the V-shaped notch or teeth thusprovided are not as effective in pulling trash against the ground on thefront side as the colter enters the soil.

depth `of colter penetration, although adjusted preferably as indicatedabove withrespect to the plane of the ground, is adjustable and itsparticular adjustmentmay depend on the amount or hardness of soil,,depth of plowing, mois ture content of lsoil and so forth. Also, it maybe desirable to change the shape and number of cclter teeth to bettersuit `various conditions ,such as rocky fields, etc., for it has beenobserved that smaller teeth aredamaged less by rocks.

The colter l0 is -adj-ustably held on the beam 2in. by releasable bolts(Figure 12) passing through one of a plurality of adjustment holes @t inthe colter shaft supporting member 9i.

Preferably, the colter is adjusted with respect to the leading edge its.of the shield it so that the distance between edge liA and the colterdoes not exceed one inch at the bottom, and this distance tapers untilthe shield edge leA nearly touches the .colter at the top. Thus, anyratoon which may be picked up from the ground is sheared off along suchedge ESA and not allowed to pass up between the colter l@ and the beam29A. Prefer-ably, the beam EEA is spaced as far as possible from thecolter 25A to prevent clog ging ci material between these two elements.

The colter may have a diameter of 27 and a speed of '75 revolutions perminute, while the plow moves at a speed of 21A? miles per hour.

The speed of the endless belt l5 may be approXimately 320 feet perminute with its forward face moving upwardly, while the plow movesforwardly at the same speed of 21/2 miles per hour.

Even though a shield i6 is provided, there is a possibility that soilmay yet enter the closed belt l5, and kunless some provisions are takento maintain the rollers 32, 5t, and 5l free of such soil, the belt maysoon become inoperative. For this reason, the rollers 32, et and 5l areeach provided with a scraper 32A, 50A and EIA, respectively, which aresupported at their ends on the box frame which rotatably supports suchrollers. As shown in Figures 8, 9 and. 10, these Scrapers may comprise Vcross section members having V-shaped projections, such as projection58B thereon extending into the V grooves 50C in the correspondingrollers. The purpose of these V grooves in the individual rollers 32, E@and 5l of the type shown at 50C in Figure 9 is to provide a means forpreventing lateral movement of the belt I5. For this purpose, as shownin Figure 11, the belt I has riveted or vulcanized thereto an internalV-shaped strip |5A arranged to enter such grooves 150C, as shown inFigure '7. Instead of merely one of such strips I5A,`the belt may beprovided with a plurality of such strips, namely, iive, as shown in themodied structure in Figure 7. These Scrapers 32A, 50A, and 5|A thereforeare not only effective to scrape the upper surface of the correspondingrollers 32, 50 and 5| but also the grooves in the rollers whichaccommodate the belt strips I5A.

Referring to the modified structure shown in Figure 14, the modifiedbelt I5 has riveted thereto a plurality of transversely extending slats|5C, each of which has extending therefrom a plurality of fingers I 5B.In all other respects, the combination share-moldboard and sharestructure I3, I4, I 6 is identical and cooperates with the otherelements of the plow in the manner described above. The purpose of themodied belt arrangement in Figure 14 is to cause the furrow strip notonly to be turned over but to also cause such furrow strip to be brokenup simultaneously by the fingers Il5B. In other words, the power-drivenbelt in Figure 14 not only turns the furrow strip but breaks it up aswell.

While a belt of the type shown in the drawings is preferred, it isconsidered that other similar types of conveying means may be used forthe same purpose. For example, such means may comprise a belt as shown,a conveyor, an endless apron or like structures.

As indicated above, the plow, instead of being wheeled and drawn by thetongue member 93, may be mounted in a tractor hitch frame operatedhydraulically or mechanically and the belt and colter driven through apower takeoff shaft from the engine of the tractor. Further, the plowmay comprise a plurality of units as shown herein in multiple units orbottoms and may include both righthand and lefthand units arrangedalternately. These constructions are shown in the modified structuresdescribed hereinafter.

In the modified structure embodying the preferred form of my invention,in Figures 16-22 inclusive, a pair of right and left plow elements 220,22| are mounted respectively on opposite sides of a tractor 2|0 whichnormally travels in the forward direction indicated by the arrow 223.Only one of the plow elements 220, 22| is in operative position at onetime in plowing operations, the other one of the plow elements 220, 22|being maintained in an elevated position as clearly shown in Figure 20.When the tractor moves to and from the fields and along highways both ofthe plow elements 22D, 22| are maintained in raised position.

The assembly shown in Figures 16-22 inclusive thus includes a righthandplow 220 mounted on the righthand plow frame 226, and a lefthand plow22| mounted on the lefthand frame 227. These plow frames '226, 227 arereleasably connected to the tractor hitch frames 226A, 221A respectivelyin the manner shown in Figure by the removable pin H.

Both right and lefthand plow elements` are exactly the same except fortheir location and position, the plow elements being minor images ofeach other; and only one of these plows220, 22| is operated at a time.For example, as the righthand plow traverses the eld, throwing a furrowto the right, the left hand plow 10 element 22| is carried in a raisedposition and does not operate. When the machine reaches the end of thefield the righthand plow element `22|) is raised out of the ground, themachine is turned squarely around and the lefthand plow element 22| isdropped into the ground. Thus, as the tractor 2|!) moves back across thefield it travels in the opposite direction but the furrow `is stillbeing thrown in the same direction relative to the field, to therebythrow the soil in one direction, to thereby eliminate dead furrows andhead furrows.

The fact that these two plow elements 22|), 22| are mounted directly onthe tractor 2 I0 and driven thereby renders it easier to turn at theends of the furrows, and provides good stability and ease of handling,and also greater ease of applying power from the tractor 2|0 to theindividual plow elements 220, 22| to drive their individual colter andbelt.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 16-22 inclusive the individualcolters, moldboard belts, moldboards, and moldboard wings or guidemembers are mounted on their corresponding frame members 225, 222 in themanner described in the other modifications hereinabove. For that reasonit is believed that details of the construction and mounting of theseelements need not be described at this time.

The belt moldboards 223A, 22 A of the elements 222, 22| are eachrespectively provided with a sprocket Wheel 223B, 22IB arranged to bedriven by a corresponding fiuid motor 2220 22|C. Fluid under pressure tothese motors 220C, 22|C for purposes of driving the moldboard belts maybe of conventional type with the fluid conducted to such motors throughcorresponding flexible conduits 220D, 22 ID.

The colters ZZGE, 22|E of the righthand and lefthand plow elements221|), 22| may be selectively placed in driving connection with thepower take-off shaft 262 of the tractor 2I through the clutch 225. Theclutch 225 is of conventional type with its central portion 225A movableto eX- treme positions wherein on the one hand the righthand colter 22Emay be 'driven by power from the take-off shaft 260 or, on the otherhand, the lefthand colter 22| may be driven by power from the same shaft22B. It is noted that when one of the colters 22DE, 22IE is being driventhe other colter, as the case may be, is stationary. Also, in a neutralposition of the clutch elements 225A, neither one of the colters isdriven, as for example, when the machine travels along a road.

Since each of the colters 22IE, 22 IE is driven in the same manner,detailed description of the drive for colter 22013` suflices to describethe drive associated with the other colter 22 IE.

One of the features of such drive is that it allows the plow elements22|), 22| to be moved from a raised position indicated in Figure 19 to alowered position shown in Figure 17. The colter ZZGE (Figure 18) ismounted on the shaft 2221i', which is rotatably supported on the frame22S, and which carries a sprocket 22|3G over which the chain 2221ipasses. The chain 22M-I is driven by the sprocket 22M (Figure 16)mounted on the output shaft of the gear reduction unit 222K. The inputshaft of such unit 222K carries a sprocket over which the driving chain22|lN passes. This chain 22ml also passes over a driving sprocketmounted on the shaft 22GP which is journalled for rotation in thebearing 220B, mounted on the frame 225. This shaft 22ilP is in drivingconnection with the power take-o shaft 260. throughthe combination` slipclutchfuniversal `.jointand,--telescoping drive assembly Iwhich has theAgeneral reference numeral 220s.

vThe-plovv'elementsr22|), 22| are thusfmounted onthe framesA 22,6,.221.Which,.,in fact, may be hitch frames of.-standard constructionI and.which arepivotally mounted Onthe crawler .tractor 21|) rabout the laxisdesignated .by the reference numeral. 23in Figure, 1,6. .These frames225, 221 ...are thus essentially. cantilever.. supported mem- .bersandeaoncarries at its free enda rotatably supported ground engagingwheel232, 233 respeotively,eas.clearlyindicated in Figure 20.

.These..wheels2`32,. 233 may be adjustably sup- .ported to. varythedepth of penetration of the individual.plow.elementsy 22d. 22| in theground.

1 Forthis, purpose y.the axles 232A, 233A respec-...tively-.aremfieunted` on the free end of pivoted `4arrns..232l3,l233B. "Thefree ends of such arms 232323313 may be 'clamped .at differentadjusted heights by a fastening bolt' 235 passing through one of the.adjustment apertures 236 and an aperture in the corresponding arm.232B,233B. It is .noted that there are a plurality of such apertures 12%, andthat only one' is used at a particular time. 11n orderl to prevent unduemovement along the longitudinal axis of the aXle`232A, the arm '222Btravels' in aguide slot 231 on frame 226. These pivoted frames' 226,'227 .with their corresponding, plow elements 22d; 22| mounted thereon bemoved to a, raised position by the hydraulicmeans 2lliv and associatedcable 24|. `cable'ffil is ailixed to the piston element 242 The "221Ahave mounted thereon a roller' 250 (Figures 16 and 22) adapted to connethe arcuate shaped roller guidei25| within the box'ramel shown in`Figurew.,:formed bythe roller 25and frame member' 225A, upon which theroller 250 is rotatablysupported. 'The arcuate guide member 25| isstationarily mountedas shown in Figure '17 on theA crawler tractor 2|!!and forms also a `supporting member for the cable idler or guide wheel244.

As mentioned previously, the colter mold- .boardmo1dboard beltYandmoldboard wing or guide member are supported lasa unit on individualframe; members .226, ,221; however, provisions are made for relativemovementv of the -moldboard assembly with respect to the colter, asindicated in Figure 21, when the moldboard contacts a large rock orboulder which otherwise might cause damage. For this purpose, themoldboard assemblyisnormally pin connected to the frame 22SYby the pins26|, 262 (Figures 21 and 17). The pin 262, however, is relatively weakand is unable to withstand large shear forces with the result thatwhenthe moldboard hits an obstruction, as indicated in Figure 21, the pin262breaks or snaps to allow subsequent pivotal `movement ofthe moldboardassembly about the axis of the other pin 26|.

Then, in order to resume operation, the obstruction designated by thereference numeral AR, is avoided and a new breakable pin 262 is in- 2512-sertedv. through thealigned holesin the endV of .fthe iframe. 22 BxandYthe moldboard: assembly.

Returning to the modification shown in Fig- -f u-rel 15; it `:is .-noted.that .the belt v| 5 -is driven -by theihorizontalshaft;200, .throughthegears 20|, 202. `The gear 202 is mounted-on'the verticalshaft.203;-which-isin driving engagementz-with the belt l5 .to drive.thebelt over the guide rollers .204,y 205. In comparing the belt l5shown in Eigure V14 .Withrthe belt` I5 shown in Figure 15, it ..is notedthat thebelt .I5 in Figure vl5 has substantially no vertical componentof. movement :but servesmainly to-propel thesoil, debris-and A.theilike.rearwardly in the direction toward the wing moldboardA 13A.

.While the -particular embodiments of the -present. invention have beenshown land de- .scribed,it willbe'obvious. to those skilled in the `art.that changes. yand modincationsmay be .made withoutdeparting. from thisinvention in itsbroader aspects and, therefore, the aim. .in Itheappended claims is to cover all such changes Aandmodincations asj fal1within thetrue spirit and scope ofthisinvention.

'What isclaimed is:

, 1., Ina plow ofthe character` described forcen- .ditioning soilhaving`a thick vegetativegrowth fthereon, a power-'driven colter, a shareandpartialmoldboard arranged jto lift and tov turn a .strip of soilrpreviously defined by the cutting action of said colter to form afurrow, an endless ,conveyor moldboardr arranged to receivea strip ,ofvsoil as it .comesup from .the share and partial moldboard and tocarry itupward and outward to deposit it.upside downin an adjacent. furrow, acombination lshield and guide.` member be- Ytween. said colter and,said, partialmoldboard `and conveyor moldboardgsaid shield lmemberrhaving a vleading'edge aft of said colterand lying" substantially `inthe'plane of rotation of lsaidcolter and-with said edge spacedprogressively closer to the'periphery or" said colter as said leadingedge extends progressively upwardly f from\ the ground.

2. In a plow of the character described for "cutting throughthiclrpineappleratoon, a power-- driven colter, soil plowinganddireoting meansdisposed aft of said colter, a shield and soil guide 4member disposedbetween said colter and said ast-mentioned means' having a leading edgeaft of-said colter and lying substantially in the planeof'saidcolter'andwithA said-edge being spaced -progressivelyva closer`distance to the periphery f of said colterl as said leading edge proAgressively f upwardly from' ythe ground v whereby -vany ratoonimperfectlyf sheared by said colter is carried upwardly-intoanincreasingly di inishf'ing-areadened by said colter leading'edge ysothat' said shield lmemberserves'vas an anvil lagainstl 'which such rimperfec'tly fsheared Yratoon may be subsequently sheared.

f In-a' plow of the character described, a tracvtory-a'frame-'mounted onsaid tractor, means fpivotallymounting said frame-'on said tractor,cooperating4 guide' means between said frame and lsaid tractor toprevent side ysway of said frame and fto guide said frame in its pivotalmovement, said :tractor having apower take-off shaft, an assemblycomprising a colter, a moldboard and a belt moldboard :mounted asvaunitOnsaid frame, a `drivingconnectionfbetween said colter and said powertake-off= shaft, said driving connection lbeing `adapted to allow`relative movement of said 'frame-'with lrespect' to said tractorpsaidmold- 4"board @and `b'elt 4.moldboard being pivotally mounted as asub-assembly on said frame, frangible means attaching said subassemblyto said frame to thereby normally prevent rotation of said sub-assemblyon said frame, said frangible means being readily broken when saidmoldboard strikes an obstacle such` as a boulder, to thereby allowsubsequent pivotal movement of said sub-assembly.

4. In a plow of the character described, a tractor, a frame mounted onsaid tractor, means pivotally mounting said frame on said tractor,

said tractor having a power take-oil shaft, an

assembly comprising a moldboard and belt moldboard mounted as a unit onsaid frame, a driving connection between said belt moldboard and saidpower take-off shaft, said driving connection being adapted to allowrelative movement of said frame with respect to said tractor, saidmoldboard and belt moldboard being pivotally mounted as a sub-assemblyon said frame, frangible means attaching said sub-assembly to said frameto thereby normally prevent rotation of said sub-assembly on said frame,said frangible means being readily broken when said moldboard strikes anobstacle such as a boulder, to thereby allow subsequent pivotal movementof said subassembly.

References Cited in the le oi' this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Sargent Sept. 3, Schenk Mar. 31, Gaylord Jan. 22, Savits Apr.5, Estes Nov. 29, Sevier Aug. 3, McLaughlin Dec. 9, Caughey Mar. 17,Carpenter Aug. 27, Paulson Dec. 31, Moore Sept. 18,

\ Adamy May 26, Strandlund May 10, Miller Dec. 24, Glasier Mar. 24,Glasier May 31, Lofstrand July 12, Bruner June 16, Lindelof June 6,Seaman Slept. 10, Fidler Nov. 3, Schleper Aug. 8,

